Archive for May, 2010

Pet Peeve 6 – Words

May 14th, 10 / 0 Comments

Words, yes words, annoy me. There are rules of how all the words we use are supposed to be used, and then people go along and break all the rules.

And it works.

This post was originally about my displeasure over the use of the singular “they”. I had the post all ready to go and put up, but I needed an example. I called on the writing talents and knowledge of my fiancé, only to find we got into a discussion on the subject.

I argued (nicely, of course) that “they” is a plural and thus should not be used in the singular. He retorted with an example where it could possibly be okay to use “they” in the singular.

Grumbling (no one likes to be wrong), I went through my bookmarks because I remembered someone mentioning the use of “they” on their blog. Upon finding it and reading only one post header – this post header – I admitted defeat.

He was right.

And so, I learned something, and you can learn something as well. Courtesy of Lighthouse Writing Tips, I give you:

Part One
Part Two
and Part Three

All on the usage of the singular “they”.

Now, I’m off to read.

Perhaps also to sulk a bit.

Not for too long, though. There are words to be written.

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Pet Peeves

My Muse: Hotel Rooms

May 13th, 10 / 1 Comment

It would just figure that my muse would cost at least sixty dollars a night.

The past weekend I decided to take full advantage of time not for work but for showing my husband a little pampering. We went to the western district of Victoria, had some delicious seafood as well as relaxation and bonding time.

Funnily enough, I had some quality writing time, too.

We don’t travel a huge amount, so it has taken me a while to realize this, but I have found my muse on the road. At least, one of my muses.

Hotel rooms.

Strange as it seems, whenever I am settled into a hotel room, I have the urge to get my laptop and start working on something. This weekend was doubly pleasurable because I worked on a current project and roughed out some notes and scenes for an entirely new project.

All while on vacation.

I’m not sure if it’s the sterility of the rooms that lets my mind wander free of distractions or if it’s just being away from all the things on the to-do list at home. The quality of the room certainly has nothing to do with it, as I’ve stayed in beautiful rooms I would have never been able to afford to be in (thank you, contest win) as well as rooms that could barely fit the bed in let alone two people.

No matter what the reason, I don’t want to question it too much for obvious reasons. However, I did just recently get an electric blanket so I can work in the bedroom without turning into an icicle. I am curious to see if I am more productive in that atmosphere than sitting at my desk where I do my work writing as well.

Do you have any strange muses?

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Inspiration

Wordless Wednesday

May 12th, 10 / 0 Comments

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Wordless Wednesday

Introducing the Perfectionist

May 11th, 10 / 0 Comments

Hello there. How are you?

Perfection: That greeting wasn’t warm enough.

Nice to see you to. Sorry, but I have to start writing now. It’s been a while since I have.

Perfection: Writing? How can you possibly write when your office is a mess, you have other work to do, you don’t know what you’re going to eat for dinner, you don’t have the right music –

I think you can see where this is going. Like many writers (writers who have a talent for procrastination, especially) I often become the victim of my perfectionist voice. The voice which is never satisfied with the surroundings, the music, the state of the world, the state of hunger…

If you have the power and determination to actually sit down and write, then you have to deal with the perfectionist voice doubting your writing voice, your ability, your talent (if you can convince your voice that you have any), and your future prospects in the world of writing among other things.

Needless to say, I don’t get a lot of writing done when I listen to the voice for too long. My two biggest problems (excuses) are the thought I have other things to do or not having a great writing environment.

Things you can do to get past your perfectionist:
*Make a goal of writing in different places.
*Don’t think about writing too long before you do it. Decide on writing and then do it.
*Freewrite before you start in on writing in your work in progress.

Do you have any other tricks to getting past your perfectionist?

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Editing, General

Getting Back to Writing

May 10th, 10 / 0 Comments

Like any other writer, sometimes I sit back from my current project and wonder what the heck I think I’m doing. Why am I writing? Why write? Why don’t I do something that will pay bills like…anything besides writing.

It’s usually about that time my itunes player decides to play me one of the songs that takes me back to when I was writing my first novel. Back then, I let the music take me to whatever mood I was going for, and then I wrote. Why did I write back then? Because I could. I loved it like I loved no other activity. Writing served not only as my escape but as my beloved art.

In writing, I discovered a way to convey to others my dreams for myself, for other, and for the world. Without directly saying a word about myself, I could convey my beliefs about how I thought the world worked then and how I thought it should work.

The time was a truly wonderful one of spending my summer vacation home alone typing away and dreaming of wonderful things and of late nights spent desperately trying to keep my eyes open so I could finish that one awesome scene or chapter.

When I get stuck or wonder why I’m writing in the first place, the problem is usually that I’m trying to please too many people. I forget that I write for myself because it’s my art. It’s forgetting my passion that I get into trouble.

So the next time you feel down or unsure about yourself, go back to the roots of your beginning days of writing. Why did you write then? Tap into that initial passion and find your way back to your art.

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General

Pet Peeve #5 – And then… And then…

May 7th, 10 / 0 Comments

Ah, my lovely pet peeves.

This one, unlike other Pet Peeve subject titles, doesn’t have to do with overuse of “and then” because I haven’t seen it used enough in a way that annoys me. But that isn’t to say it’s okay to use “and then” was too much.

No, no, no.

This isn’t as common a pet peeve as others, but with some new writers, I’ve noticed I get told (and not shown or at least told in an entertaining way) action after action with no break for main character thought, dialogue, or anything else.

I know it can be hard to think of non-fluff things when you’re moving your army north or when your main character is training in the martial arts, but you have to give the reader something besides “and then they were here doing this…” “and then they were there doing that…”

If it helps, think of writing a story as baking a cake. You have the ingredients: action, dialogue, description, internal dialogue, conflict, and other things. Too much of one thing or not enough of another at any given time (the measurements depend on what kind of cake you’re making) and either no one is going to be interested or they’ll think your cake tastes funny.

Be careful that you are adding in the right amount of certain ingredients in certain places. If you find yourself getting bored with the details of moving your army, your reader will likely get bored too. Spice it up.

If you’re stuck as how to do that with your piece, email me and I’ll be more than happy to give you suggestions.

Now I’m hungry.

Happy writing!

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Pet Peeves

Wordless Wednesday

May 5th, 10 / 0 Comments

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Wordless Wednesday

Portrait of a Character – Rose

May 4th, 10 / 0 Comments

I think character portraits are always good writing exercise, and they are a great way to keep in touch with fiction writing even when you aren’t necessarily working on anything at the moment. I decided to work on a character portrait of Rose, the character who runs the pub at The Plot.

I’ve been less than accommodating to her demands that I clean up the place a bit, so I hope this will make her feel better until I do get the time to sit down and really do an overhaul.

***

Having raised her four younger brothers since she was barely a teen, Rose is anything but a delicate southern belle. When asked if she felt cheated by life because she wasn’t afforded the opportunities of other young ladies, she would always grin and say she didn’t have the bone structure for nicer society.

Rose was always judged pleasant looking at best, but if she minded it, she never showed it. Nor did she show any interest in the other sex. With her four brothers to raise, she always claimed to have more than enough men in her life.

There certainly were a few persistent suitors, but she never encouraged them. After she fixed up and started running The Plot – a rest place for characters of all sorts – the men seemed happier to see her as a good bar mistress to be appreciated rather than pursued.

She could talk the pants off any man if she wanted to, but through logical, fun talk rather than fluttering eyelashes and giggling.

Rose didn’t giggle.

She always felt very content and happy with her lot in life. Who wouldn’t with a thriving business and a family who loved her? And yet, there were times when she’d sit in her favourite window seat at night and stare up at the moon. No one could tell you for sure the ways her mind wandered those nights, but she certainly wasn’t thinking about The Plot.

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Characters

Writing During Tough Times

May 3rd, 10 / 0 Comments

It’s not exactly new news that the world has fallen on tough times. What started as problems in the US economy quickly morphed into problems for the world economy. Some people are fine, but more and more people are hitting hard times and losing what they have worked so hard to keep. People, if they physically can, are taking on second and third jobs just to break even.

Even then, sometimes they don’t.

With the world in its current state, it’s hard to find anything positive. Even if we try, the media finds whatever ways it can to turn us into fearful, sorrowful creatures.

Now, more than ever, people are probably asking you, “Why do you want to write?”

Maybe they’re making snarky comments or are just plain asking what in the world you think writing will do for anyone when there are ‘so many more important things’ to think about and do.

Today I found this inspiring piece by Toni McGee Causey on Muderati. It’s titled ‘Comfort Reading’, but the title does not even begin to reveal the emotional, dramatic force the content has.

If you are feeling negative about the world, if you are feeling uneasy about the news, if you are just plain unsure of your writing and whether or not you should continue on… Read this piece. Print it off and put it up on your wall. Give it to anyone who asks you why you’re writing when you could be doing something else.

You won’t regret it and you just might find the inspiration/motivation you need to keep writing in a world where nothing is sure.

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General, Inspiration

Sunday Scribblings 213 – Event

May 2nd, 10 / 3 Comments

I know that this prompt is absurdly early (I’m just keeping you on your toes!) I am going to a wedding this weekend and rather than have the possibility of having no prompt until late Sunday night, I thought I’d give you your assignment now. The prompt for this week is: event.

Happy scribbling!

A fiction bit this week…

***

Evelyn looked away from the mirror for a moment to the wall to her right. She knew that not far beyond that wall stood Steven, her school years sweetheart. How long had they known each other? Their life together felt as if it had been going on for decades rather than the ‘mere’ eighteen years of reality.

She focused back on the mirror, powdering her forehead once more, though she didn’t need it. The cool of the night made her feel better about holding the event at night. Unexpected and unconventional, to be sure, but she and Steven had agreed it was for the best with the days being so hot in late September.

Nervous flutters made their way around her stomach, and she stared at herself in the mirror once more. She’d dismissed her best friend, Lily, so she could have some time alone to gather her thoughts. And, to be honest, her nerves.

True, she’d never been so sure or excited about a single decision in her life, but surety wasn’t necessarily a cure for nerves.

Was Steven be nervous, too? Perhaps, but he wouldn’t show it. An ideal poker player, he held his feelings and thoughts close to him.

A knock at the door from Lily signaled that it was time, and she stood. Nodding to herself in the mirror, she walked out of her room. Steven emerged from his room at nearly the same time, and they looked at each other. The moment held for one beautiful moment of silence.

Mr. James McCallister cleared his throat.

They all filed into the conference room and sat down in the large, comfortable but intimidating black chairs.

“We all know why we’re here,” Mr. McCallister said. “Everything else has been settled, and now all we have to do is sign the papers to settle the legal ends.”

Lily smiled and squeezed Evelyn’s hand.

McCallister passed the documents to Steven, who signed them without a glance and then passed them to Evelyn. Evelyn did the same and then passed them to McCallister.

He looked at each of them in turn for a long moment. Then he nodded.

“I now pronounce you divorced.”

With a content sigh, Evelyn smiled for the first time in a long time.

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Sunday Scribblings